Building stronger communities, together.
At Synergy, we’re committed to making a positive impact on the communities where we operate. Aligned with our Social Value framework, our annual Community Giving Fund aims to support community organisations creating resilient, prosperous communities.
The Community Giving Fund provides grants of up to $10,000 to successful applicants to support initiatives that deliver positive outcomes for the communities where we live and work, in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS).
How our grants make a difference
Our grants help to deliver a range of community initiatives, from providing essential items to regional families in crisis and replanting a threatened ecological community in the Wheatbelt, to enabling greater social inclusion for people with a disability.
We are proud to support hard working community organisations delivering practical and meaningful initiatives that make a difference where it is needed most.
2024 Community Giving Fund Recipients
In 2024, we awarded grants to fifteen not-for-profit, community and charitable organisations across the SWIS.
Great Southern
- Youth Pride Network
Youth Pride Network Regional Engagement Program: Youth Pride Network empowers LGBTIQA+ young people in regional areas by creating inclusive, engaging environments that foster community connection and personal growth, and recognises the unique challenges faced by young people in these regions, including limited access to resources and social support. The Regional Engagement Program creates safe spaces in the Albany and Busselton areas through activities like queer D&D to foster connection and self-expression, and also trains local educators to better support LGBTIQA+ youth, improving mental health outcomes and community acceptance.
Wheatbelt
- Karlgarin Hyden Hockey Club
Karlgarin Hyden Hockey Club scoreboards: This initiative supports investment in multi-purpose, portable scoreboards for sporting events in the Hyden community. The scoreboards will serve other sporting clubs in the Hyden community including swimming, cricket and croquet clubs. This will enhance event professionalism, support fair play, and boost community engagement, fostering a stronger, more connected local sports culture.
- SCITECH
Regional Science Tour: Students in low-population areas like the Wheatbelt face fewer opportunities to engage in innovative STEM learning compared to peers in major cities. We’re supporting SCITECH to deliver science shows and workshops in Narrogin and surrounding towns to build science enquiry skills. Students will have the opportunity to experience high-quality, curriculum-aligned programs delivered by passionate science communicators.
Mid West
- Cervantes Men’s Shed
Powering the Engine of Cervantes - Cervantes Men’s Shed: The new men's shed needs power to deliver its programs. As a safe, suitable and practical workplace for men and women to contribute to their community and gain a feeling of worth, the initiative will support activities including a weekly exercise program, monthly social activities and training and special interest group telecasts.
Perth Metro
- Loop Foundation
Empowering Women Through Industrial Sewing Training: This initiative will equip women from CaLD and FDV backgrounds in Loop's upcycling program with industrial sewing skills. By providing industry-relevant skills-based training and paid employment to women facing disadvantage, Loop aims to improve their financial stability and foster community connections through workforce participation and social interaction.
- Kids are Kids
Allied Health Career Pathways program: Kids Are Kids! aims to introduce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander High School Students to Allied Health and build aspirations for a career in this space. This program aims to support students by providing an insight into Allied Health and to give them the tools, motivation and support they need to make an informed career decision.
- RTRFM
Breaking Sound Barriers: Despite anti-discrimination laws in place, people with disability are among the most marginalised groups in our community and experience multiple forms of discrimination and exclusion. Breaking Sound Barriers delivers courses on broadcasting – and specifically training in podcasting skills – to people with disabilities.
- Patricia Giles Centre
Christmas self-care gifts: Christmas can be a financially stressful and difficult time, and generous communities often donate gifts for children but mothers are often overlooked. This initiative provides thoughtful and useful Christmas gifts for mothers and women impacted by family and domestic violence and aims to promote feelings of self-worth, self-care and confidence through the act of gift-giving.
Peel
- Peel Community Kitchen
Fresh food program support: Serving more than 1,000 meals per week to those struggling below the poverty line, this initiative aims to support the Peel Community Kitchen with fresh food items to provide nutritious meals and social companionship in a welcoming and non-judgemental environment.
- Ngaru Pou
Kākahu Māori: Ngaru Pou supports young Maori to maintain their connection to traditional culture. This initiative supports the purchase of traditional costumes for education about the Maori cultural values, beliefs and customs. By immersing young Maori in their cultural heritage, renewed pride and acceptance of their identity contributes to positive social and mental health outcomes.
South West
- The Smith Family
Learning for Life program: For the 1.2 million young Australians growing up in poverty, their choices, opportunities and outcomes in life can be limited. The Smith Family's Learning for Life program provides a wraparound approach that encompasses financial, practical, and personal support, enabling young people to harness education and build skills to unlock their true potential. As of 2024, more than 25% of students on Learning for Life identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Bunbury Soup Van
Summer Treats program: Bunbury Soup Van is a volunteer-run, grassroots community group delivering soup and bread to those in need. Christmas and the summer holidays can place enormous pressure on already-struggling families. This initiative provides fresh fruit and vegetables, and treats during the summer months, supporting improved nutrition and wellbeing outcomes for the local community.
- Carbon Positive
Bunbury Community Forest Planting: This initiative supports the planting of a diverse, fast-growing urban pocket forest in Usher, Bunbury, enhancing local biodiversity, reducing local temperatures, and providing habitat for wildlife.
Southern Forests Food Council
Farmer Resilience Networking Series: This initiative supports primary producers to build resilience and capacity, create community cohesion, improve mental wellbeing, create a network of support during hardship, and enable opportunities and practices to support a sustainable agriculture industry. Additionally, it will support educational and social events for the community.
- Augusta Primary School Parents & Citizens Association
Shade Sails for Students: The impact of sun exposure on students during outdoor play is a growing concern. This initiative will support the installation of new playground shade sails to address the need for enhanced sun protection and comfort at Augusta Primary School’s playgrounds.
Read about the 2023 recipients of the Community Giving Fund.
Read about the 2022 recipients of the Community Giving Fund.
Get in touch
For more information about the Community Giving Fund, please email community.investment@synergy.net.au